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45
HEALTH EDUCATION
Miss D.S. Elliott, S.R.N., H.V. Cert., Dip. H.E.
Health Education Officer
"Was none who would be foremost
To Lead such dire attack:
But those behind cried 'Forward!'
And those before cried 'Back !.' '
Lord Macauley.
The more the field of health education is explored, the more
frighteningly wide it becomes and it is understandable that some
reluctance may be found in tackling it.
A talk to voluntary workers in Infant Welfare Centres at a
reception given by the Mayor and an in-service training session
with the health visitors were opportunities taken during the
year to explain and show how one aspect of health education
could be given a "New Look" from a sound and familiar base line,
the Infant Welfare Centres, and still be within the scope of
every member of the staff. Success with this work would give
them confidence and experience to deal with more ambitious work
in the future.
It was explained that compulsory hygiene had banished
certain epidemic diseases, but the spread of modern nuisance
diseases in this country depended largely on the relationship
between behaviour and health. It was now possible to make the
deliberate choice between accepting or rejecting protection
against certain diseases and accidents and if people were not
constantly taught how to hold them at bay, ignorance and apathy
would encourage their return once more.
Nowadays there is an insatiable curiosity and demand by the
public for this knowledge. It is expertly given and sometimes
exploited by all the forms of mass communication - by commercial
advertising, the glossy magazines and television whose organisors
have for a long time recognised public interest. Public
health staff should always be acutely aware of these needs and
be the recognised local authority for providing authentic health
information in a really vital way.
It was explained that some more organised form of health
education in Infant Welfare Centres was not intended to replace
the personal advice given by the doctors and health visitors, but